Jurgen Klopp calls Liverpool’s shock Atalanta’s defeat worst moment – ‘we lost the plot’

Jurgen Klopp unhappy with ‘unrecognizable’ Liverpool after devastating defeat to Atalanta; leaves the Reds with a 3-goal deficit ahead of the second leg in Italy next Thursday; they return to Premier League motion on Sunday, taking over Crystal Palace continue to exist Sky Sports

Jurgen Klopp called Thursday’s 3-0 home defeat to Atalanta the “lowest point” of Liverpool’s season as Liverpool’s Europa League hopes hang in the balance.

Liverpool were terrible throughout the first leg of the quarter-final and ended the evening somewhat fortunately that Atalanta missed one in every of their many late-game opportunities so as to add much more luster to an already favorable result.

Mo Salah’s goal was ruled marginally offside, but the much-modified Reds lacked fluidity and needed a spark to dislodge a well-organized Atalanta side, who will now have a great probability of eliminating the tournament favorites after they meet again next week in Bergamo.

“It was a really bad game, oh my God,” Klopp said after Liverpool’s first defeat at Anfield in almost 14 months.

“They broke, scored, and we just lost the plot just a little bit. We were here and there in midfield, I didn’t recognize it.

“It was really strange, but from a football standpoint it was a tactical discipline. They scored goals and we continued to play into their hands.

“We played a bad match and deserved to lose. We have to feel it now, but we have exactly this evening to feel bad about it and then we have to get our act together in front of (Crystal) Palace.”

Klopp made a complete of six changes – replacing three defenders – after Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, but his try to clean up the team actually backfired as Liverpool worked each out and in of possession.

Asked if the tie still stood with 90 minutes left to play at the Gewiss Stadium next Thursday, Klopp said: “I do not think it is time to discuss it. I’m not in the mood to take into consideration a game during the week when now we have one other one in between.

“We definitely should try, we would like to win this match, but this isn’t the time to speak. We should play a extremely good match.

“Where we’re at, this might be the lowest point for us performance-clever, so it ought to be possible to play just a little bit higher and we are able to play loads higher. But above all, it’s Sunday now.”

Liverpool hosts Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, live coverage before heading to Italy for the second leg of the demanding assignment.

Verdict: Distracted Liverpool faltering at a crucial moment?

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